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I've always loved reading. I remember trips to the library and the excitement of my arms stacked with books. I still love that feeling of deciding what book I'm going to read next. But as a mom, a professional, a volunteer and as life gets busier and busier, it can be hard to find time to read.
Belonging to two books clubs (shout out to my Panera book club friends and Reading Between the Wines pals) gives me the external deadlines that let me "give myself permission" to sit and read. I also love book clubs because I've always valued the variety of selections when I'm not the only one choosing what I read. (That's also why I've loved our Mother Daughter Book Clubs.)
Since I love it, I make time to read but I also love audio books so I can read even more. I still visit the library and I still call them affectionately, "books on tape." Old or old-fashioned? You decide.


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Teotihuacan Ruins are located 30 miles northeast of Mexico City, in what is now the San Juan Teotihuacan municipality in the state of Mexico. The site is known for having the most architecturally significant pyramids built in Pre-Columbian Americas. Also of interest are the anthropologically significant residential compounds, the Avenue of the Dead and beautifully preserved murals. The name "Teotihuacan" is an Aztec phrase meaning "place where gods were born."
(Foto Via: WikiCommons)

subset: commoncrawl


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Yankees, Dodgers split at Yankee Stadium
Recommended Video:
NEW YORK -- Hanley Ramirez capped a six-hit day with a pair of RBI singles, Yasiel Puig homered to complete a dazzling debut in New York and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Yankees 6-0 Wednesday for a split of their day-night doubleheader.
The Dodgers salvaged manager Don Mattingly's return to the Bronx after a 6-4 loss in the opener.
Chris Capuano (2-5) pitched three-hit ball for six innings in his comeback from the disabled list. The Dodgers rebounded from a sloppy loss to former teammate Hiroki Kuroda (7-5) in a matchup between injury-ravaged teams with $200 million payrolls.
In the first matchup between the teams in New York since the Dodgers clinched the 1981 World Series title with a Game 6 victory at old Yankee Stadium, Ichiro Suzuki homered, drove in three runs and made a spectacular catch on the warning track for the Yankees.
New York got help from reliever Ronald Belisario's two errors on the same play in a three-run seventh.
The clubs played a split doubleheader because of a rainout Tuesday night. The announced attendance for both games between the old October rivals who've met in a record 11 World Series topped a total of 80,000, even though there were many empty seats.
The Dodgers started out quickly against Phil Hughes (3-6), who allowed a season-high 10 hits in six innings.
The first four batters reached on singles with Puig bunting for a hit and Ramirez getting his fifth hit of the day -- an RBI single. Adrian Gonzalez also drove in a run but Tim Federowicz grounded into a 5-4-3 double play to end the rally.
Gonzalez doubled in the third and scored on Andre Ethier's two-base hit after Ramirez made an out for the first time.
Ethier helped quash a Yankees rally in the fourth, throwing out Robinson Cano trying for a double with none out to the delight of 85-year-old Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully, who was making his first foray into Twitter.
"I think Andre Ethier has done a really good job in Center Field. Especially for someone who has played Right Field for years. #VinScully," he tweeted.
Puig homered to right field leading off the seventh to make it 6-0.
In the opener, Puig was caught trying to turn a routine single into double in the first inning -- then made it work on a ball hit into only a slightly better spot in the eighth, eliciting an ovation from the very vocal Dodgers fans, who outhollered Yankees fans on many occasions.
The cheers were especially loud from all fans for Mattingly in his return -- even if he was wearing the wrong shade of blue.
The Bleacher Creatures chanted "Donnie Baseball!" during each game, and fans cheered a video tribute in the opener and a live shot of Mattingly in the visitor's dugout in the nightcap. The 1985 AL MVP tipped his cap in appreciation.
In the second game, Puig, the Cuban defector with 15 major league games of experience, bunted for a hit, was hit by a pitch, stole a base to help manufacture a run and hit his fifth homer.
"You can recognize the tools right away," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said after Game 1. "There's an awful lot to like about this kid."
Ramirez went 4 for 4 with a two-run homer in the eighth in the day game, and drove in Puig twice to help make Capuano's return from a strained upper back muscle easy. He was nasty Wednesday in his first scoreless start since last August.
Kuroda gave up two runs and eight hits in 6 2-3 innings to outpitch South Korean rookie Hyun-Jin Ryu (6-3) in the afternoon. Ryu allowed a two-run double to Lyle Overbay and a homer to Suzuki in the sixth.
With runners on first and second in the seventh, Belisario let Vernon Wells' meek pop in front of the mound drop for an error. Jayson Nix advanced to third on the drop and scored when Belisario threw the ball away. Belisario hit Thomas Neal with a pitch, then Suzuki greeted Paco Rodriguez with a blooped two-run single to make it 6-2.
Ramirez hit a two-run homer off Preston Claiborne after Suzuki robbed Gonzalez of an extra-base hit in the eighth to pull the Dodgers to 6-4. But Mariano Rivera came on in the ninth and struck out Puig to end it for his 25th save.
NOTES: New Brooklyn Nets coach Jason Kidd threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the second game. Before the game he talked with Rivera in the dugout. "He's the blueprint of when you talk about a career that's gone for some time. He's a success," Kidd said. "He's done it all. He's done everything." ... The Dodgers optioned outfielder Alex Castellanos to Triple-A Albuquerque. Castellanos went 0 for 2 in the opener.


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The Lenexa Midnight Bike Ride: it's one of my favorite events of the year. Some people look forward to Spring Classic. Others to the first bike commute of the year, or perhaps the start of the Brevet Series. Not me. I wait with bated breath for the one tiny glimmer in the midst of the banal phase of the cycling calendar that is the month of July: The Midnight Bike Ride
The reason? It's a fun ride that I can drag my friends along to. But mostly, it's the stretch of subterranean street known as the Meritex compound. After slogging up two decent grades on Prairie Star Parkway, you earn the right to descend into the chilly, humid caves. It's somewhat surreal and loads of fun; worth the price of entry on its own.
This year, The Lenexa Midnight Bike Ride isn't going to go through the caves. It won't even start at Old Town Lenexa. It won't even take place on public roadways. The organizers are holding it at Shawnee Mission Park, where families can do laps around a 4-mile loop to their heart's content (or until they finally shut things down). This, to me, is a Pretty Big Deal for several reasons:
- No cave action
- A 4 mile loop is going to feel like a criterium
- A loop with kids is going to feel like an elementary school bike rodeo
- The hills around Shawnee Mission Park will force people some to walk the bike
I may still donate to the Optimist club and get the T-shirt, but I'm pretty sure I'm not going to be attending. Instead, I think I'm going to arrange my own ride, in conjunction with the Dark Side Ride group. It will likely be held the same night as the Lenexa Midnight Bike Ride (meet around 11:45PM July 11th, kick off at midnight), but it will probably be a shorter route than most of the other Dark Side Rides (because it'll start at midnight, not 9:00PM). I'm going to talk to some folks tomorrow and see if I can't get access to some caves to ride through.
I kind of have a route already planned, but I need to make sure I can use the caves that are along the way. If so, the start location would be just off the highway in Merriam, the ride itself would be less than 20 miles, and the out-and-back route would land us tastily close to a 24-Hour Denny's that we can hijack afterwards.
Interested? Leave a comment or e-mail me ( noah at kc-bike dot net )


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This is an archive page. The links in this content are no longer being updated.
Rhonda Santos (508) 852-8044
Suzanne Bond (301) 734-5175
WASHINGTON, March 24, 2011 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will treat a total of 29,764 trees susceptible to the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) with the insecticide imidacloprid in New York this spring.
Control treatments will start the week of April 4, weather permitting, on 21,294 trees in Queens, 299 trees in Brooklyn and on 8,171 trees in Staten Island. Treatments are a vital component of the area-wide eradication strategies used to prevent further infestation and reduce populations of this invasive pest.
Control treatment applications are conducted by program officials, through the use of contracted New York licensed pesticide applicators. ALB host trees are treated by directly injecting the insecticide into the soil around the base of the tree, or into the trunk of the tree, allowing the imidacloprid to be dispersed through the tree's vascular system. This enables the insecticide to reach ALB adults feeding on small twigs and leaves, and larvae feeding just beneath the bark of treated host trees.
Imidacloprid is a registered pesticide under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. It is used in agriculture, the lawn care industry to kill lawn grubs and in some pet treatments to kill fleas. Approved for ALB program use, imidacloprid is applied each year for ALB eradication to a limited area in the United States. APHIS oversees treatment applications and conducts environmental monitoring as part of the ALB eradication program.
The public can assist the eradication effort by allowing program officials access to their property to evaluate susceptible trees for any signs of ALB infestation and/or to treat trees that are susceptible to ALB infestation. Control treatments are applied to noninfested ALB host trees. All ALB infested trees or trees showing signs of infestation must be removed and destroyed in order to eliminate the ALB infestation. This action applies to treated trees as well.
ALB threatens urban and suburban trees, as well as valued forest resources, and threatens such industries as maple syrup production, hardwood lumber processing, nurseries and tourism. Control treatments are part of the ALB cooperative eradication program's effort to prevent further infestation of this invasive insect and reduce populations.
APHIS and its cooperators undertake eradication by imposing quarantines, regulating the movement of ALB and ALB host material, conducting visual inspections, removing infested trees and chemically treating noninfested host trees as part of an integrated eradication strategy.
The ALB program is a cooperative effort among various federal, state and local agencies including, USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Forest Service and Agricultural Research Service; as well as the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. For more information on the treatment program, call in New York
1-866-265-0301 or 1-877-STOP-ALB or visit www.BeetleBusters.info for more information about ALB, including pictures and where to report a suspected beetle or suspected signs of infestation.
For treatment maps, review the ALB website at www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/
plant_pest_info/asian_lhb/index.shtml and select " ALB Program Maps."
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).


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Photo: The Professor instructs the other castaways in the art of stone tool making.
Our contention; there never were primitive humans. Neither do we accept the evolutionary timescale suggested here. We note however, that where ever you find human artifacts that they are consistent with intelligence and that the most cherished mythology of the evolution paradigm continues to get knocked down. Might even intelligent people have made use of the technology available to them?….s8int.com
Heather Pringle
for National Geographic Magazine
Published February 17, 2010
It wasn't supposed to happen like this.
Two years ago a team of U.S. and Greek archaeologists were combing a gorge on the island of Crete (map) in Greece, hoping to find tiny stone tools employed by seafaring people who had plied nearby waters some 11,000 years ago.
Instead, in the midst of the search, Providence College archaeologist Thomas Strasser and his team came across a whopping surprise—a sturdy 5-inch-long (13-centimeter-long) hand ax.
Knapped from a cobble of local quartz stone, the rough-looking tool resembled hand axes discovered in Africa and mainland Europe and used by human ancestors until about 175,000 years ago. This stone tool technology, which could have been useful for smashing bones and cutting flesh, had been relatively static for over a million years.
Crete has been surrounded by vast stretches of sea for some five million years. The discovery of the hand ax suggests that people besides technologically modern humans—possibly Homo heidelbergensis—island-hopped across the Mediterranean tens of thousands of millennia earlier than expected.
Many researchers have hypothesized that the early humans of this time period were not capable of devising boats or navigating across open water. But the new discoveries hint that these human ancestors were capable of much more sophisticated behavior than their relatively simple stone tools would suggest.
"I was flabbergasted," said Boston University archaeologist and stone-tool expert Curtis Runnels. "The idea of finding tools from this very early time period on Crete was about as believable as finding an iPod in King Tut's tomb."


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Ben Meadows: 124016R
- Price:
- $100.50
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These safety cans provide fast, precision pouring when handling flammable liquids. The patented, innovative manifold automatically vents for smooth, glug-free liquid flow, and the comfortable Safe-Squeeze® trigger offers maximum control when pouring. A 9" flexible metal hose ensures targeted pouring into small openings. The fill port features an ergonomically designed handle that makes filling easy. Safety features include a long lasting stainless steel flame arrester that dissipates heat to prevent flashback ignition and a gasketed, self-closing, leak-tight lid that automatically vents to guard against rupture or explosion. The warning label features an extra large ID zone that permits the user to identify contents, department location, or individual user name. All can sizes have extra capacity for mixing in additives for two cycle engines. All cans meet OSHA and NFPA standards and are FM Approved and UL/ULC Listed. Ten year manufacturer's warranty.
We encourage our customers to let us know what experiences they have had with our products, whether good or bad. By submitting a review, you can share your experiences with others and also provide valuable feedback to us as well. With just a few simple steps, you can add your review of this product.
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Malin Hard-Wire Stainless Steel Leader, 1/4Lb, 0.024 Dia., 131Lb
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Please, tell me it isn't so!
First, in case you missed it, the country of Greece is dead butt broke ….. flat busted. The BBC has announced that Greece will receive an initial bailout of $146 billion US dollars from various parties, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8656649.stm , while the Euro Zone sets up a $1 trillion US dollar bailout fund. http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/germany-okays-trillion-dollar-euro-zone-bailout-plan/94028/on , http://money.cnn.com/2010/05/10/markets/dollar/?eref=aol .
Reminds me of AIG – really – an intial bailout – with a huge amount of "follow-on" cash a few weeks later.
The initial cost to US Taxpayers is being estimated at something between $56 billion and $170 billion dollars. The estimates are based on the fact that the IMF or International Monetary Fund, will contribute $284 billion to start and may commit up to $1 trillion dollars. http://money.cnn.com/2010/05/10/markets/dollar/?eref=aol
At present the United States Taxpayer provides $54 billion annually in IMF funds. http://www.house.gov/jec/imf/11-18-03.pdf The US pays, at a minimum, 17% of the IMF's debts. 17% of $1 trillion is $170 billion.
Wait, this isn't the worst of it.
The American Taxpayer maybe assuming the entire national debt of Greece.
Sounds crazy doesn't it. I hope to heck it is crazy and not true. America simply can't afford it!
AIG and the Greek Bailout
Enter AIG, the former international insurance giant currently owned by the American Taxpayer, thanks to the US Government and the US Government's bailout programs.
AIG, American Internation Group, the international insurance giant was "nationalized" in September 2008 and given an initial infusion of $85 billion in taxpayer cash. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122156561931242905.html
Additional taxpayer cash was provided to AIG and at present the total amount "fronted to AIG" is at least $135 billion taxpapaer dollars. http://www.propublica.org/ion/bailout/item/how-big-is-aigs-bailout-really707 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122627437470412029.html
The amount "fronted" to AIG may be in excess of $180 million, it is hard to tell because the US taxpayer has not had a recent accounting of how much additional cash has been funnelled to AIG. http://www.propublica.org/ion/bailout/item/how-big-is-aigs-bailout-really-707
AIG used much of the money to pay off French & German banks who had invested in "toxic mortgage securities" or related securities sold by AIG called "Credit Default Swaps" or CDS. http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/economicsunbound/archives/2009/03/german_and_fren.html
In the initial payoff, French and German banks received $36 billion in US taxpayer funds, paid through AIG by the Obama Administration. The payout to the French and German banks took place in March 2009 during the first 3 months of the Obama Administration under the direction of Obama Treasury Secretary Geithner. http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/economicsunbound/archives/2009/03/german_and_fren.html
Almost $60 billion dollars of the initial US Taxpayer payout to AIG went to foreign banks. http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/economicsunbound/archives/2009/03/german_and_fren.html
You might remember that Neil Barofsky, the Special Inspector General for the $700 billion financial bailout, reported to Congress that the Obama Administration had mismanaged the intial payouts, resulting in billions more than necessary being paid out to foreign and US banks and brokerages. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2009-11/17/content_8984419.htm
The whole issue of paying out US Taxpayer dollars in satisfaction of AIG's debt was so "mucked up" that current Treasury Secretary Geithner first refused to disclose who got what and when, in the deals. Inspector General Barofsky faulted Secretary Geitner and the Federal Reserve for refusing at first to reveal which banks had received the billions of American taxpayer dollars supposedly intended to save AIG. Geithner and the Fed released the banks' names and the amount of their payoffs only after the American Public demanded greater transparency and the US Congress responded to that demand. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2009-11/17/content_8984419.htm http://www.marketwatch.com/story/geithner-paulson-defend-182-bln-aig-bailout-2010-01-27
Is AIG at it again?
The international press has reported on how President Obama is pushing for a bailout of Greece's new Socialist Government. http://www.businessinsider.com/now-obama-is-making-emergency-calls-to-merkel-over-greek-aid-2010-4
For years the Socialists in Greece's Government have fudged the numbers concerning the Greek National Debt. "To keep within the monetary guidelines of the European Union, the government of Greece has been found to have consistently and deliberately misreported, in other words falsified, the country's official economic statistics.[17][18] In the beginning of 2010, it was discovered that Greece had paid Goldman Sachs and other banks hundreds of millions of dollars in fees (CDS fees or "premiums") arranging transactions that hid the actual level of Greek borrowing.[19] The purpose of these deals …. was to enable them to spend beyond their means, while hiding the actual deficit from the EU overseers.[20]. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_European_sovereign_debt_crisis
"Speculation in the CDS market began after 4 October 2009, as the Greek Socialists celebrated their election victory. Two weeks later the newly-elected government informed its Euro-partners that the deficit for 2009 was going to lie at 12.7 percent of economic performance (GDP)." "The new estimate for the budget deficit called onto the stage the first hedge funds, reports a London CDS-dealer working for a large American bank." http://www.eurosavant.com/2010/02/21/cds-just-another-evanescent-bubble/
Speculation in the CDS market?
Now the Eurpoean Press is reporting that AIG is selling CDS or Credit Default Swaps once again. Only this time, AIG is "insuring" Greece's debt with the instruments not "toxic mortgage securities".
"In any case, the CDS-wager has gone up because more and more true-believers in the Greek State have come to feel the need to insure their holdings. This rapidly-rising demand for insurance has been set off by the escalation of the debt crisis. But it is past Greek governments that have to answer in the first place for the exhausted budget situation. The higher demand for insolvency protection that has driven up the CDS price follows from the evidently poorer estimation of Greek credit-worthiness."
Greek banks as insurers
On the other hand, whoever expected Greece's rescue by Europartner countries would have had to position himself on the CDS market as an insurer, that is, as a seller of payment protection. The take in premiums from insurance protection sold provides increased revenue. But it's on the seller-side that the weak points of the CDS market become evident. It's still unclear who has sold insurance protection for Greece. In one study analysts from the major French bank BNP Paribas referred to market-rumors that Greek banks had insured a large sum by CDS. If this is correct, then the payment protection they have provided is worth nothing. Greek banks hold State debt of over 40 billion euros. This corresponds roughly to the entire amount of equity in the Greek credit market. A bankruptcy of the State would lead to a collapse of the banking system."
"London investment bankers name AIG as a further CDS-seller. That company had to be nationalized during the financial crisis due to its having written insolvency insurance on American mortgages. This debt-load would have led to the collapse of the world's biggest insurer. Prior to the financial crisis AIG is said to have widely held State credit-risk. If yet-larger insurance positions on Greece exist, then the American government would have a strong interest in preventing that country's insolvency."
Read the full article in Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung GmbH, the German equivalent of the Wall Street Journal. The original article, in German, can be read here: http://www.faz.net/s/Rub645F7F43865344D198A672E313F3D2C3/Doc~EC22CF3FE26F8487A9B4E8E99B0DA384E~ATpl~Ecommon~Scontent.html
The english translation here: http://www.eurosavant.com/2010/02/21/cds-just-another-evanescent-bubble/
What might this mean to the US taxpayer? Well that will depend on several things.
First, Greece's total National Debt is a bit of a mystery. The Politicans in Greece have been fudging the numbers for so long, that it is hard to accurately estimate the total debt and without knowing the total debt, it is nearly impossible to estimate how much may have been "insured" by purchasing CDS and how much of the CDS business may have passed through AIG.
Surprisingly similar to the "financial collapse" isn't it?
A Greek Debt bubble, insured through AIG with CDS.
What is clear is this, if AIG is selling CDS to "insure" the Greek National Debt, the American people have not been told exactly why this is being done, nor have we been told how much we are on the hook for and who is making a buck off the deal. Two of the "usual suspects" are on the sceen, AIG & Goldman Sachs, two large and powerful players in the international financial scene and Democratic to their cores. You can bet on one thing, the average Jack or Jill Taxpayer isn't going to make a dime on these dealings.
Meanwhile the Greeks Socialists and Anarchists are rioting in the streets over proposed and desperately needed budget cuts and the US is agreeing to bailout Greek workers while US workers run out of unemployment benefits.
Contact Your Congressperson today and insist that they investigate these reports. The US Taxpayer should not be "on the hook" for the Socialist Greek Government's mismanagement of the Greek economy. Lets put our house in order before we try to prop up foreign Socialists Governments and their failed welfare states.
Lets practice saying "NO" to California by saying "NO" to Greece first!
Read the March 2009 post on AIG's collapse here: https://mcauleysworld.wordpress.com/2009/03/18/the-story-behind-aigs-collapse-bad-mortgages-credit-default-swaps-accounting-irregularities/
Filed under: AIG, CDS, Credit Default Swaps, Economic Crisis, Financial Crisis, Politics, Unemployment | Tagged: AIG, Credit Default Swaps (CDS), Greek Bailout, US Taxpayers | Leave a comment »


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Laws of the state of North Carolina, known as General Statutes, are made by the General Assembly. The North Carolina General Assembly conducts its business in the Legislative Building, located in the state's capital of Raleigh. The 2017-2018 Session convened on January 11.
The General Assembly is a "bicameral" legislature — meaning that it's made up of two bodies: the House of Representatives, which has 120 members, and the Senate, which has 50 members. Each legislator individually represents either a Senatorial District or a House District, and elections are held every two years for each member of the General Assembly. Members come to Raleigh from all kinds of different backgrounds and very diverse professions. The minimum age to be a state Representative is 21, and to be a state Senator, it's 25. There are no term limits for members of the legislature.
The General Assembly meets over a two year period, called a "biennium." Its regular session, also called the "long session," begins in January of each odd-numbered year and lasts roughly six months. After the legislature adjourns for the summer, it reconvenes again the following even-numbered year, usually in the Spring, for what's called the "short session." The short session usually only lasts a few months.
The North Carolina General Assembly is a part-time legislature, unlike states like California and New York, whose legislatures are in session essentially all year long. Regular members of the General Assembly — as opposed to leadership positions — are each paid just $13,951 per year. Each is assigned a legislative assistant (called an "LA" for short) to help them with their work. Audio of the proceedings is broadcast live whenever the House and Senate are in session.
The Senate and the House of Representatives meet in their respective chambers on Monday evenings and during the day on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. When the bodies are not deliberating in their respective chambers, committee meetings are held in the morning and late afternoons. The lion's share of the legislature's work is done in committee meetings, and many committees continue their work throughout the year, even when the General Assembly is not in session. Members typically return to their homes on Thursday afternoons — after the week's session has ended — to take care of their personal affairs and to make themselves available to their constituents.
The Speaker of the House presides over the North Carolina House of Representatives. The Speaker (properly addressed as "Mr. or Madame Speaker") is elected to that important post by the entire membership of the body. The position of presiding officer of the Senate, called the President of the Senate, is one of the the responsibilities of the Lieutenant Governor. The President of the Senate, for his part, has no vote except to break a tie. Dan Forest is the current Lieutenant Governor.
At the start of the 153rd Biennium of the North Carolina General Assembly (the 2017-2018 Session), the House of Representatives once again unanimously elected Representative Tim Moore (known as "elected by acclamation") to serve as Speaker. Rep. Moore was first elected by his House colleagues last session to serve in that important role.
The House and Senate both elect various other officers from their respective memberships as well. The most important of these is what's called the "President Pro-Tem" in the Senate. Because the Lieutenant Governor's role as President of the Senate is largely a ceremonial one, the President Pro-Tem (shorthand for "Pro Tempore," a Latin phrase which means "for the time being") is the Senate's most powerful member. Senator Phil Berger is the current President Pro-Tem of the Senate. (The Lieutenant Governor is next in the line of succession after the Governor, followed by the Speaker of the house, and then the President Pro-Tem of the Senate, in that order.)
At the beginning of each session, the President Pro-Tem of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives appoint members to serve on the various committees of each body. Their work is very important, as every bill that's introduced to the General Assembly will be studied by at least one committee in both the House of Representatives and in the state Senate. There are dozens of committees (and subcommittees) and every legislator in the General Assembly serves on several of them.
The House and Senate also both elect a Principal Clerk, who is responsible for all the administrative functions of the body, including keeping necessary documents and maintaining official records. The Principal Clerk is a professional position, directly overseeing a non-partisan staff of roughly half a dozen assistants. The Principal Clerk works in close, daily consultation with leadership and serves as the official certifying officer for the body.
A second officer is the Reading Clerk. The Reading Clerk reads aloud those bills, resolutions, proclamations, and other documents (or parts of them) that the North Carolina Constitution requires or which the presiding officer in each chamber deems necessary to be read (in full or in part) during the daily legislative session.
Both bodies also have a Sergeant-at-Arms staff, who serve as security guards for the legislature and the Legislative Building itself. They maintain order and decorum in the public galleries (located high above the floor of each chamber), act as doorkeepers to each chamber while the bodies are in session, and are charged with enforcing specific directions of the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House. Sergeant-at-Arms staff also assist in the setup of committee meeting rooms.
The Legislative Services Commission consists of seven legislators from each body and is the management authority for the General Assembly. The Commission, through its non-partisan staff, provides the following services to the legislature: bill drafting, legal assistance, fiscal analysis, general research, library services, administration of the legislature's budget, clerical assistance, computer services, proofreading, printing, supply, food service, building maintenance and security.
The Legislative Services Commission runs the North Carolina Legislative Library, which provides reference, research, and information services to the General Assembly, legislative staff, and legislative committees, and the the Fiscal Research Division, which provides budget and tax-related analysis and information to all members of the North Carolina General Assembly. When the General Assembly is in session, the Division's major activities follow the budget process, and when the General Assembly is not in session, staff monitors implementation by state agencies, tracks spending, and follows major federal policy issues that could affect the State. Additionally, the Division provides staff support to oversight committees, such as the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations, and to interim study committees that prepare recommendations for the legislature to consider.
Types of Statutes
By following proper procedures and observing Constitutional limitations, the General Assembly can make new laws and can repeal old ones. The kinds of laws which are enacted can be classified under five general categories:
- Laws regulating individual conduct. These laws prohibit certain acts or require certain acts by an individual in order to promote the interests of society. These laws frequently impose a penalty for violations: a fine, imprisonment, or both. These are also known as criminal laws.
- Laws providing for State services. These laws include provisions for schools, hospitals and health services, agricultural and industrial research, public recreation facilities, and many other types of services which the State may provide for its people.
- Laws empowering or directing local governments to act. Cities, counties, and many other types of local governmental units are creatures of (created by) the General Assembly and are ultimately subject to State control. This control is generally exercised through the General Assembly by enabling or directing the cities and counties to act in the manner desired by the State.
- Laws determining how much money will be raised by the State and for what purposes it shall be spent. When the General Assembly enacts the various tax (revenue) and appropriations (spending) bills, it makes two determinations: 1) How much of the resources of the people of the State will be taken for purposes of government, and b) which state governmental services will get priority for available funds.
- Amending the State Constitution. In addition to these four types of statutes, the General Assembly may propose amendments to the State Constitution. If an act to amend the Constitution is approved by at least three-fifths (72 members of the House and 30 Senators) of the total membership of each body, the proposal is then voted on by the citizens of the entire State in a referendum on election day. If a majority of the voters approve it, the proposed amendment then becomes part of the Constitution. Read a history of North Carolina's Constitution here.
Drafting of Bills
A bill is a proposed law. Anyone can propose an idea for a bill to a legislator: a private citizen, a corporation, a professional association, a special-interest advocacy group, a state agency or even a city or county. But all bills must be sponsored by one or more legislators to be considered by the General Assembly. A bill may be drafted by any competent person, although the Legislative Services Commission's Bill Drafting Division drafts bills at the request of the members of the General Assembly. The Office of the Attorney General has the statutory duty to draft bills at the request of the state's many departments and agencies (called "agency bills"), and for the General Assembly in general. This means that legislators have two separate offices to which they may turn for drafts of bills. However, most every bill filed is drafted or re-drafted by the Legislative Services Commission before being introduced.
Introduction of Bills
Only a member of the General Assembly may introduce a bill – that is, present it to the General Assembly for its consideration. That legislator is called the bill's Primary Sponsor. Up to three other legislators may join the first-position Primary Sponsor as Sponsors of the bill, but an unlimited number of members can join the Sponsors as "co-sponsors" of the bill. House rules set a maximum of ten bills for which a member may be a first-position Primary Sponsor. The Senate has no such limitation.
A member wishing to introduce a bill must have first filed it with the Principal Clerk's office on the previous legislative day. There, it is stamped with an official number and logged-in electronically for tracking purposes so that legislators and the public can more easily follow its progress. When the body goes into session, the presiding officer (the Speaker of the House or President of the Senate or their designees) announces the time for the "Introduction of Bills and Resolutions." The Reading Clerk then reads aloud the name of the bill's sponsors, the bill's number, and the bill's title — at this point the bill has passed its First Reading. Typically, just the title is read aloud (as opposed to the entire bill) for the sake of brevity — as legislation often runs to many thousands of words and hundreds of pages. Before technological advances like photocopiers and the Internet, bills were read in their entirety. All members receive full electronic copies of the bill.
The Path to Becoming Law
After the bill passes its First Reading, it is immediately assigned to a committee (or committees) for consideration. Committees are where the real legislative work in Raleigh occurs, as policymakers consider the merits of a bill. This is also the stage where experts, advocacy groups, and the general public can offer input.
As the committees undertake their work, they often make significant changes to the bill; these changes ultimately end up in what's called a "proposed committee substitute" (PCS) of the original bill. Committees are also where the real power in the legislature is exercised. If a committee decides to kill a bill, the bill "dies in committee." The bill "passes committee" if the committee votes to give the legislation a "favorable report."
After a bill passes a committee favorably, it often will be considered by further committees, where it may be altered yet again before its next, or Second Reading. This committee process can be lengthy, sometimes taking weeks or months. The Speaker of the House and the Chairman of the Rules Committee in the Senate have enormous discretion over what committees a bill is assigned to on its path to becoming law, but bills are usually assigned to committees based on the nature of what the bill is written to do. For instance, all bills seeking to raise a tax or a fee must pass through the Finance Committee, and all bills that spend taxpayer money must all go to the Appropriations Committee. The most powerful committee in terms of the legislative process is the Rules Committee: this committee can choose to intervene at any time. There's an old expression that it's the Rules Committee where bills go to die (or, as it happens, be reborn).
If the committee approves the bill, it reports this fact to the presiding officer, who may (or may not) place it on the Calendar (the daily schedule of business) for consideration by the full membership of the body. Additional changes to the bill (called amendments) may be recommended by the committee or may be proposed by any member from the floor.
Second Reading occurs after the bill has successfully passed through this sometimes complicated maze of committees. The bill is "read for a Second Time" and is then fully debated by legislators on the floor. When the time comes for a consideration of the bill by the full membership of the body, the presiding officer will recognize the sponsor of the bill or the chair of the committee which recommended the bill for passage. That person explains the bill, and then any member who wishes to speak for or against the bill will be heard.
The presiding officer manages the floor debate according to well-established customs and procedures (although sometimes the Speaker of the House or the President of the Senate will designate another legislator to perform this task), recognizing in turn members who wish to speak on the matter in question (by asking "For what purpose does the gentleman (or gentlelady) rise?"). The length and liveliness of debate usually depends on how contentious the bill is, but in reality, the vast majority of bills are not very controversial and there is virtually no debate at all, because many members have become familiar with the provisions of the bill from their committee work. During this process, legislators may offer amendments to the bill (which are voted on by the body separately). An "engrossed" bill contains all the adopted amendments and other changes that were incorporated into the bill as it makes its way through the Senate or House of Representatives.
When the floor debate ends, the presiding officer calls for a vote by commanding that "All in favor, will vote (or say) aye, all opposed, no." Depending on the type of vote, members will then either vote verbally (called "Viva voce," from the Latin meaning "with living voice") or by using one of two small electric switches at their desks which are located on the floor of the chamber. Members must be physically present and at their desks to vote. Members press a green button for an "Aye" vote and a red button for a "No" vote. Members typically have only five seconds to cast their vote; if a bill passes its Second Reading, it receives preliminary approval…but is still not yet law.
Third Reading is the point at which a bill is read with all its amendments, providing further time (if necessary) for additional deliberation by the body before a final vote is taken. In some cases, a bill must wait until the next legislative day to be read a Third Time. Any bill which seeks to raise a tax or a fee must get its Third Reading on a separate day. Under normal circumstances — and if there is no objection by a member of the body — a bill is typically read for a Third Time immediately after it passes its Second Reading vote. Sometimes a member may object to the same-day Third Reading as a delay tactic, in which case Third Reading occurs the next legislative day. (A "legislative day" is when the body is in session. Typically, legislative days do not include Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays.)
Consideration of the Bill by the Second Body
After a bill has successfully passed its Third Reading in the body in which it was first introduced, it is then officially sent to the other body (e.g. a bill originating in the House then goes to the Senate). There, it goes through exactly the same process all over again – that is, it is "read in" for the First Time, referred to a committee or committees, and if the reports are favorable along the way, it's debated and voted on again by the other body during its Second and Third Readings on the floor. The bill must successfully make it through this entire complicated process in both chambers before becoming law.
Bills which passed one chamber might not even be taken up by the other body, consigned to languish in some committee never to be heard from again. An idea from one bill can be folded into another, unrelated bill; in the waning days of a legislative session, this maneuvering can get complex as language jumps from one bill to another on its final journey to becoming law. A bill that was originally drafted for one purpose in the House might end up taking on additional provisions dealing with seemingly unrelated matters from the Senate, and so on. But this is the nature of lawmaking — and everything happens according to (or because of) very specific House and Senate rules.
If the second body makes changes to a bill that was passed by the body in which the bill first originated, it must be returned to the body of origin, with a formal request that the originating body "concur" (agree) with the changes made by the second body. Even at this stage, those changes can be either technical or substantive. Sometimes the second body adds entirely new provisions to the bill or guts the bill entirely.
If the original body objects to the changes made in the other body, the two presiding officers may appoint members to a "conference committee" which seeks to reconcile the differences between the two bodies. If the committee can agree upon the disputed subject, the conference committee reports back to each body, and the two houses vote on the recommended text. If either body rejects the conference committee's recommendations, new members may then be appointed to the conference committee to try again. Otherwise, after all that time and work, the bill is defeated.
If the original body concurs with the changes, the bill is ready to be "enrolled" and signed into law.
Enrollment, Ratification, and Publication
After a bill passes both chambers, it is enrolled (enrolling is the process of changing a bill which has passed both chambers into its final format). A clean copy (including all amendments) is prepared, with space for the signatures of the two presiding officers, and the Governor, if necessary.
The enrolled copy is taken to the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate during the next daily session. Each presiding officer signs the enrolled copy. When the second signature is affixed, the bill is said to have been "ratified." If the bill is Local Bill (affecting 15 counties or fewer), it immediately becomes law.
In 1996, the citizens of North Carolina voted to amend the state Constitution, giving the Governor limited veto power (see Article II, Section 22 of the North Carolina Constitution). Prior to that time, the Governor could not veto anything passed by the General Assembly, and North Carolina was the last state in the union to grant its governor veto power. The Governor's veto power is limited in that only certain bills are subject to it, including Public Bills (affecting 15 counties or more), but not including any bills which make appointments (to official state boards or commissions, for example), propose state or federal constitutional amendments, or redraw state or federal electoral districts. In North Carolina, the Governor lacks the power to veto a Local Bill.
The day after a bill is ratified, it is presented for the Governor's approval or veto. If the Governor signs the bill or takes no action on the bill within ten calendar days, the bill then automatically becomes law. After the General Assembly adjourns for the summer, the Governor has just thirty calendar days to act on a bill. The Governor is required to reconvene the General Assembly if a bill is vetoed after adjournment, unless a written request is received and signed by a majority of the Members of both bodies that says it is not necessary to reconvene. In North Carolina, the Governor lacks the power to veto just a part of the bill (called a "line-item veto.")
If the Governor vetoes a bill, the bill is returned to the original body, where three-fifths of the members present and voting (as opposed to the entire total membership of the body) can vote to override the veto. If the original body votes to override the veto, the bill is then sent to the second body, where 3/5 of those members present and voting must also vote to override the veto before the bill can become law. A member of the body may be present, but for whatever reason choose not to cast a vote one way or the other. As a result, his or her presence is not counted against the three-fifths required to override the veto. Technically speaking, it's possible for a single member in each body to affect a veto override — that is if no other member of each body chooses to cast a vote.
After the bill becomes a law, the term "bill" is no longer used (although the bill number can still be used to retrieve the text of the new law on the General Assembly's website). The enrolled law is given a chapter number and is then published under that number in a volume called "Session Laws of North Carolina."
The preceding article was reproduced in large part, although not entirely, from the General Assembly's website.


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Inheritance Highlights Bravery during the Holocaust
Style News Wire | 8/29/2012, 9:57 p.m.
"Inheritance: Stories of Memory and Discovery," opening Sept. 14 at Holocaust Museum Houston, highlights the bravery and hope of six families through a series of individual photomontages, each depicting their experiences during the Holocaust.
"Mothers Give Your Children," by Leslie Starobin
The new exhibit, which runs through March 24, 2013, in the Museum's Central Gallery, is a selection of still-life montages from Boston-area artist and photographer Leslie Starobin composed from the personal belongings salvaged by families under unimaginable distress and often in flight during the Holocaust.
The public is invited to a free preview reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012. Admission is free, but advance registration is required for the reception. Visit http://www.hmh.org/RegisterEvent.aspx to RSVP online. For more information, call 713-942-8000, ext. 128 or e-mail email@example.com .
Starobin's photographic and montage work is in the permanent collection of many academic museums, including the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard University, Rose Art Museum at Brandeis University and the Smith College Museum of Art.
Her work is also in the collection of numerous public museums in America, including the Jewish Museum and Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Starobin has had solo exhibitions at the Danforth Museum in Framingham, MA, Duke University Museum of Art in Durham, NC, the National Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., and the Oregon Jewish Museum in Portland.
In 2010, Yad Vashem in Israel selected Starobin's photomontages for inclusion in their upcoming, international database of artists, who have explored the Holocaust in their artwork.
For this project, as well as others, Starobin has travelled extensively. She has photographed in Belarus, Israel, Japan, Russia and Western Europe.
Her montage work has been featured in Pakn Tragen Magazine published by the National Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, MA. Her photographic work has been included in numerous publications, including American Photographer, Business Week, Dance Magazine and Photo Art Magazine in Hong Kong. Starobin's feature story, "The Ancient Healer" with photographs of bathers at the Dead Sea, was published in The Boston Globe Travel Magazine.
Starobin is the recipient of numerous grants, including one from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New England Foundation of the Arts/Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture in NY. In 2008 and 2009, she received Hadassah-Brandeis Institute Research Grants to pursue, "The Last Address." The work on exhibition at the Holocaust Museum Houston has been supported by grants from Framingham State University's Center for Excellence in Learning, Teaching, Scholarship and Service and the Whitney Travel Fellowship from the FSU Independent Alumni Association.
Starobin is a professor of communication arts at Framingham State University in Massachusetts, where she specializes in visual communications, photography, and the history of photography. In 2011, she was appointed to the Academic Advisory Board at the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute at Brandeis University. She has a master's degree in fine arts from the San Francisco Art Institute and a bachelor's degree from Hampshire College in Amherst, MA.
This exhibition is generously underwritten by Susan and James A. Baker, III; FamilyTreeDNA.com; Valspar Corporation; Velva G. and H. Fred Levine; and Holocaust Museum Houston's Corporate Chairman Members: Baker Botts LLP, Frost, The Halliburton Charity Golf Tournament, H-E-B, the Morgan Family Foundation and Marathon Oil Corporation, with special thanks to United Airlines, official airline of Holocaust Museum Houston.
Holocaust Museum Houston is dedicated to educating people about the Holocaust, remembering the 6 million Jews and other innocent victims and honoring the survivors' legacy. Using the lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides, the Museum teaches the dangers of hatred, prejudice and apathy.
Holocaust Museum Houston's Morgan Family Center is free and open to the public and is located in Houston's Museum District at 5401 Caroline St., Houston, TX 77004. For more information about the Museum, call 713-942-8000 or visit www.hmh.org.


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Yes, we all ride mountain bikes here at Mtbr, but from time-to-time we also ride bikes with skinny tires—especially commuting to-and-from work. Some of us don't mind getting all dressed up in colorful lycra, but others wouldn't be caught dead in it. For those who prefer wearing more casual bike attire, San Francisco-based Betabrand has something for you.
In addition to their ever-popular DiscoLab line that yours truly has been rocking with the disco ball helmet, Betabrand also offers a complete line of pants, jackets and shirts designed specifically for two-wheel commuters. Their Bike to Work line is designed to be both comfortable on the bike as well as stylish, so that when you show up at the office you can get right down to business without looking like some lycra-clad commuter dweeb.
Since November I've been wearing what Betabrand calls their Bike to Work Britches, but really, they're jeans. They look exactly like your basic pair of jeans with classic five-pocket styling, metal rivets on the hand pockets, a coin pocket and tasteful white contrast stitching. But take a closer look and you'll quickly discover these ain't yo daddy's britches.
The Betabrand Britches feature denim that's slightly stretchable, made of 88 percent cotton, 10 percent polyester and 2 percent Lycra for much easier movement than traditional jeans. They also have a gusseted crotch, which might sound painful, but trust me, it makes for a much more enjoyable riding experience.
The Britches are also loaded with cool little features including a U-lock loop in the back left waistband, an internal phone pocket, carabiner loops at the bottom of each belt loop and slightly higher back rise to prevent you from looking like some douchey fixie hipster poet with your asscrack hanging out.
Perhaps the handiest features of the Bike to Work Britches are the hidden reflective accents. The rear left pocket features a flip out triangle flag with reflective tape on it for riding at night. And if you're into pegging your pantlegs, the inseam and outseam on the inside leg features reflective 3M Scotchlite reflector fabric. The inside back right leg also features a reflective Betabrand logo.
So how do they work? Well in the four months I've had them, I have to say, all my other jeans have collected dust on hangers. As comfortable as the Betabrand jeans are to ride in, they're even more comfortable to wear casually. As a matter of fact, these jeans are actually the most comfortable jeans I've ever worn and they look every bit as stylish as a pair of designer jeans.
But a word of warning for those of you who are deathly afraid of any jeans that have a tighter fit: you might be too big for these britches. Although these aren't what you would consider hipster skinny jeans, the Betabrand Britches definitely hug your thighs, especially if you have devastatingly massive thighs like me. But because they have some stretch, they're extremely comfortable.
Another word of warning—wash these jeans by themselves for the first four or five times. They have a fair amount of blue dye that leaks in the wash, and if you put these in with your whites, your whites won't be white for long.
At $108, the Betabrand Britches are not cheap, but they are Made in USA and a much better value than equivalent designer jeans because of their versatility for both on and off-the-bike usefulness. Trying to ride in traditional jeans is like wiping your backside with sandpaper. Riding in the Betabrand Britches is like wiping with aloe-infused triple-ply.
The Britches are available in both men's and women's sizes, and if jeans aren't your bag, Betabrand also offers the Britches in black, khaki, gray and olive. Now if Betabrand were to come out with some Enduro™ approved Jorts, they'd really be onto something.
For more information visit www.betabrand.com.


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|Article Index
|UNRIC Library Newsletter – June 2005
|New information material
|New titles
|All Pages
60th Anniversary of the San Francisco Conference
English: http://www.un.org/aboutun/sanfrancisco/
French: http://www.un.org/french/aboutun/charter/
Spanish: http://www.un.org/spanish/aboutun/san_francisco/
2005 WORLD SUMMIT, 14-16 September 2005
English: http://www.un.org/ga/59/hl60_plenarymeeting.html
French: http://www.un.org/french/ga/59/hl60_plenarymeeting.html
Spanish: http://www.un.org/spanish/aboutun/organs/ga/59/hl60_plenarymeeting.html
General Assembly elected Jan Eliasson (Sweden) as the President of its sixtieth session
English: http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2005/ga10355.doc.htm
French: http://www.un.org/News/fr-press/docs/2005/AG10355.doc.htm
Informal Interactive Hearings of the General Assembly with non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations and the private sector
[UNHQ, New York, 23-24 June 2005]
National Competitive Recruitment Examination 2006
English: http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/examin/exam.htm
French: http://www.un.org/french/Depts/OHRM/examin/fexam.htm
Conflict prevention, peace-building and development
new website of the UN Department for Economic and Social Affairs
2005 General Assembly High Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS [UNHQ, New York, 2 June 2005]
(Documents are available in English, French and Spanish)
"Population and HIV/AIDS"
Wall Chart produced by the UN Population Division
World Population Day [observed on 11 July]
English: "Equality Empowers" - http://www.unfpa.org/wpd/
French: L'égalité, c'est le pouvoir - http://www.unfpa.org/wpd/index_fre.htm
Spanish: La igualdad es poder - http://www.unfpa.org/wpd/index_spa.htm
2005 Social Forum (21-22 July, Palais des Nations room XVII, Geneva)
Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights
57th session, Geneva (25 July - 12 August 2005)
WHO Resource Book on Mental Health, Human Rights and Legislation
"WHO is giving countries an important new legal tool to help address the often unacceptable conditions in which people with mental disabilities live. The book examines international human rights standards and shows how they apply to people with mental disorders, addresses the 'why' and the 'how-to' of drafting, adopting and implementation, as well as linking legislation with mental health policy. The book also includes a 'step-by-step' checklist for reviewing existing legislation and developing new laws."
2004 Global Refugee Trends: Overview of refugee populations, new arrivals, durable solutions, asylum seekers and other persons of concern to UNHCR
Maldives Post - Tsunami Assessment Report http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=
Tsunami – 6 month update (UNICEF)
Water for life: Making it happen
WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation
"Basic sanitation must reach 138 million more people every year through 2015 – close to 2 billion in total - to bring the world on track to halve the proportion of people living without safe water and basic sanitation, the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF warn in a new report. Meeting this Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target would cost US $11.3 billion per year, a minimal investment compared with the potential to reduce human illnesses and death and invigorate economies."
International Criminal Court (ICC) opens investigation in Darfur
UNCITRAL Launches New Multilingual Website
"The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) has launched a new multilingual website, providing comprehensive information in the six official languages of the United Nations. With a user-friendly interface, the new UNCITRAL website offers up to date information about the work of UNCITRAL and its Working Groups, as well as information on the status of UNCITRAL's texts and publications. The website includes compilations of preparatory documents relating to the international instruments prepared by UNCITRAL, as well as additional resources, including a link to the On-line Public Access Catalogue of the UNCITRAL Law Library."
The Brussels based United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe - UNRIC provides information on UN activities to the countries of the region. It also provides liaison with institutions of the European Union in the field of information. Its outreach activities extend to all segments of society and joint campaigns, projects and events are organized with partners including the EU, governments, the media, NGOs, schools and local authorities.
United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe (UNRIC Brussels)
Residence Palace, Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 155, Block C2,7th and 8th floor, Brussels 1040, Belgium
Tel.: +32 2 788 8484 / Fax: 32 2 788 8485


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As a graduate teaching assistant, you fulfill a variety of important roles while teaching undergraduates at UNL. In addition to being an instructor, you may also serve as a tutor, an advisor, a facilitator, and a mentor. In some cases, you may even be the first contact undergraduates have with your discipline. You are an essential element in the path to success of every student you meet, as you engage them in the learning process and provide the feedback and guidance they need to improve their academic performance.
Good teaching doesn't just happen. It takes a great deal of planning, effort, organization and hard work. Add to this mixture assessment and reflection and you have the ingredients for effective, skillful teaching.
See also the Instructional Development section of UNL's Graduate Career and Professional Development site.
Just the beginning…This online handbook provides resources to help you explore new approaches to teaching.
For more detailed and comprehensive information on TA matters, we strongly encourage you to consult:
- your supervising professor
- your academic advisor
- your department head
- your college dean
- the Office of Graduate Studies


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A TAMIL refugee branded a security threat by ASIO and held in detention in Melbourne has attempted to take his life – following an earlier suicide attempt by another Tamil man in Sydney.
Managing arrivals from Sri Lanka has emerged as the biggest challenge for Australian immigration authorities, with the latest boat intercepted at Cocos Island on Wednesday evening carrying 86 people.
It comes as international pressure builds for a boycott of the upcoming Commonwealth meeting, set to be held in Sri Lanka next year, with Britain leaving open the prospect of not attending.
More than 5700 Sri Lankans have landed on Australian territory this year – well over 80 per cent of all asylum seekers arriving by boat.
The Immigration Department has stepped up involuntary deportation of Sri Lankans from the majority Sinhalese ethnic group, including 32 on Thursday.
But arrivals continue to outpace deportations and the United Nations has expressed alarm Australia may not be adequately assessing people's asylum claims.
Of Sri Lankan asylum seekers already in Australia, the most difficult cases revolve around more than 50 people, the majority Tamils, held in detention.
They have been found to be refugees – preventing them being returned home – but branded a security risk by the security agency ASIO, making them ineligible for release into the community.
About 10 men with adverse assessments are being held at the Broadmeadows centre with several suicide attempts this year among the group.
In the latest case, the man – whose identity is known to Fairfax and who has been detained since June 2009 – was believed to be despairing of his prospects for release.
He was found early Thursday morning by another detainee and an Immigration spokeswoman said he was then transported by ambulance to hospital.
It follows the attempted suicide last week of another Tamil man at Villawood detention centre in Sydney who was denied security clearance by ASIO.
Another Tamil man given an adverse security assessment is on the fourth day of a hunger strike at the Broadmeadows centre.
Despite the end of the civil war in Sri Lanka in 2009, the international spotlight has again focused on the troubled island after a leaked UN report this week showed the organisation failed to protect civilians in the final days of a brutal offensive against the separatist Tamil Tigers.
Only last week, Australia was fiercely critical of Sri Lanka's postwar human rights record, telling the government it must stop its police and army abusing, torturing and mistreating its citizens, and must end the disappearances and abductions occurring across the country.
But Australia has also worked closely with Sri Lanka in an attempt to discourage boat voyages.
The foreign affairs committee of Britain's House of Commons on Thursday urged the UK government to join Canada in refusing to attend the Commonwealth meeting in Colombo.
The Foreign Office said it was "too early" to talk about Britain's presence at next year's meeting.
"We will look to Sri Lanka to demonstrate its commitment to upholding the Commonwealth values of good governance and respect for human rights," a spokesman said.
With Ben Doherty
For help or information, call Suicide Helpline Victoria on 1300 651 251 or Lifeline on 131 114, or visit beyondblue杭州夜网.au.
The original release of this article first appeared on the website of Hangzhou Night Net.


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Run Fast, RunFresh. Say goodbye to your stinky gym shoes. Drop one in each shoe to keep them smelling like new!
Acitve Life USA - Loop Band Strong
BLACKROLL LOOP BANDS are especially good for training smaller muscle leg chains, leading to better body stability and reduced risk of injury. The natural rubber, skin-friendly textiles.
Product Information:
Sold out
Active Life USA - Blackroll Mini Roll
The lightweight recovery tool in mini format is perfect for self-massage to release tension (feet and arms) on the road or at the office. Especially in everyday use, the BLACKROLL MINI is particularly nice to use: especially people who work on screens can benefit from the occasional short massage of the lower arms, soles of the feet, or the neck to prevent or correct tension and strain.
Product Info:
Active Life USA - IAMRUNBOX Lite - Orange
Designed for work and play, IAMRUNBOX Backpacks are lightweight, ergonomic, and cleverly designed to keep your clothes wrinkle-free as you travel from A to B.
Backpack Lite is a basic product version with one compartment for clothes. It is smaller and lighter than the Pro version, but provides adequate space for a single outfit and it is perfect for keeping clothes crease-free.
Office & Everyday Life:Fast replacing the traditional briefcase, backpacks are used by business professionals across the globe who appreciate the comfort and functionality that comes with this type of bag. No matter where you go, to work, to the gym, to visit friends, or to an important business meeting, a backpack is a versatile piece of luggage that allows you to carry as much or as little as necessary, and thanks to the 'hands-free' design, you have complete freedom to shake hands, grab a coffee, or answer your mobile phone.
Running:In the IAMRUNBOX collection, you will find two fantastic run-commuting backpacks, the Backpack Lite and the Backpack Pro. Lightweight, ergonomic and specifically designed for the job at hand, they will make your daily commute that little bit easier, and keep your work clothes perfectly pressed so that you'll always look your very best in the workplace. Perhaps the biggest reward of run commuting, is that you get to complete your workout before your working day even begins.
Cycling:Designed to help you transport your clothes crease-free from A to B, these innovative travel bags make cycle commuting a whole lot easier. Perfect for active commuters who prefer to cycle to work too. Our aim is to provide modern solutions for busy professionals who want to work hard, train hard, and find the perfect balance between the two.
Traveling:If you don't need to carry your laptop with you, then the IAMRUNBOX Backpack Light could be the perfect travel accessory for you. Lightweight yet sturdy in design, they are large enough to hold any shirt/trouser or blouse/skirt combination, and have plenty of space for accessories such as cufflinks, ties, and belts. Ideal for business travel and weekend trips that require formal attire such as weddings, these innovative travel bags and garment carriers guarantee crease-free clothing, so you can travel in comfort, knowing that you'll arrive in style.
Active Life USA - Loop Band Light


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September 29, 2019
- STUPID F#@KING BIRD by Aaron Posner
- Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
- Location: WIU Hainline Theatre
- Description: STUPID F#@KING BIRD
By Aaron Posner
Directed by Bill Kincaid
with Original Music by Valerie Cambron & Austin Roach
September 25 28 at 7:30pm, September 29 at 2:00pm
WIU Hainline Theatre
General Admission $15
Students/Seniors $13
WIU Students Free with ID
About the play:
An aspiring young director rampages against the art created by his mothers generation. A nubile young actress wrestles with an aging Hollywood star for the affections of a renowned novelist. And everyone discovers just how disappointing love, art, and growing up can be. In this irreverent, contemporary, and very funny remix of Chekhovs The Seagull, Aaron Posner stages a timeless battle between young and old, past and present, in search of the true meaning of it all. STUPID FUCKING BIRD will tickle, tantalize, and incite you to consider how art, love, and revolution fuel your own pursuit of happiness.
Rated R for adult language and situations.
- Related Web Site: WIU Theatre and Dance
- Contact Information:
Tammy Killian
Phone: 3092981543
Email: email@example.com
- Source: College of Fine Arts & Communication


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Cable Twist Socks v. 2.0
by exercisebeforeknitting
Well, it certainly is nice to be able to answer all of you! I'm so glad I switched to Haloscan! I've also added a new header banner (thanks to French Roast Design) with a few more new design elements coming soon.
Here are a few progress pictures on the Cable Twist socks. I hope to finish them this week! Johanna asked how many balls of Swish you need for a pair. I'm using 3 balls for women's size 8 socks with a 6″ leg. I'm knitting them up on US 2s with 56 sts around. My other pair of Swish socks will probably take 4 balls, as I used a longer leg.
One class session down, 573842758345894302 more to go. So far, so good. I'm pretty excited about this particular professor. He uses CHALK. No joke. No whipping through PowerPoint slides at breakneck pace. PowerPoint for very detailed material is just worthless, in my opinion. Organic chemistry? Lots of details. There is hope.


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How to Choose the Right Supplier for Your BusinessDon't regret the supplier you select when you have a how-to guide at your fingertips.
Selecting the right suppliers for your business needs is vital to ensure that you are able to deliver your products and services on time, at the right price, and in compliance with your quality standards. By implementing specific supplier's selection criteria, it's possible to identify companies that will work with you to meet the demands of your customers.
Here are five tips for finding the right suppliers for your raw materials or other company procurement requirements.
1. Set your criteria.
Create a list of the supplier's selection criteria that companies need to fulfill to be able to provide you with the items you need. This could include issues like:
- Lead times from receipt of your order to delivery
- Minimum and maximum order quantities
- Storage and handling facilities
- Specific methods of delivery
- Quality assurance processes
- Payment terms and conditions
- Return policy
- Contactable references
Setting the criteria in advance will enable you to evaluate potential suppliers on each of the listed items and ensure that you don't overlook any important requirements.
2. Define your process.
Identify the methods that you will use to find suitable suppliers. Decide whether you will publish your requirements in trade publications and call for bids, or whether you will approach selected companies directly for proposals and estimates. Allocate a time frame for conducting your suppliers selection process. Appoint qualified members of your team to review the proposals and recommend a short list of suppliers to choose from.
3. Call for bids.
Put out a call for bids according to the selection process you chose. This could be a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a Request for Quotation (RFQ). Whatever form it is, it should include full details of the products or services you need, along with quantities, delivery dates, and quality standards identified in your criteria. Ask bidders to provide detailed information on the processes they use, the stability of their raw material suppliers (if applicable), and reasons why you should choose them.
4. Evaluate the bid submissions.
Compare each submission you receive against a checklist of criteria for suppliers and question any items that appear to be lacking in clarity. The American Society for Quality suggests taking steps to ensure the validity of the submission. Review the scope of the services outlined in the proposal and consider whether they match your requirements. Decide on each criteria's importance and score all submissions against this for an objective method of evaluation. Identify what the agreement or contract period with each potential supplier comprises to ensure you aren't drawn into a situation that could be damaging to your business.
5. Monitor the supplier performance.
Even the most reliable supplier can occasionally slip up. Make sure they have a direct contact point at your company and conduct regular performance reviews. This will help you keep tabs on their work and make sure they're fulfilling their end of the agreement. These reviews will also help you when it comes time to talk about contract renewal, so you know where you stand.
Following these tips will enable you to successfully select suppliers who can support your business requirements by delivering the appropriate goods and services you need on time and within budget. This will help you improve your productivity and ensure you produce quality goods/services.


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I'm the author of Pyrit (http://code.google.com/p/pyrit/) which has an OpenCL-module.
I would like to be able to build my OpenCL-module without the need to (dynamically) link libOpenCL.so at build time. While my own code is licensed under the GPLv3 and may be included in all kinds of (Linux) distributions, the OpenCL-library is usually only provided by third-party, GPL-incompatible drivers (provided e.g. by Nvidia or AMD). Therefore it is currently not possible to include my OpenCL-module in a Linux-distribution like Fedora.
The circumvent the need to link in libOpenCL.so at build-time, my idea was to use dlsym() to dynamically resolve the OpenCL-symbols at runtime and use function pointers to call the functions. This however is only possible if the whole signature of the function that is pointed to is known at compile time in form of a typedef. The problem is that the header-file "cl.h" currently does not provide a typedef for the OpenCL-functions. This leaves me with the only option (afaics) to provide the typedefs myself, duplicating the information from khronos' header file.
May I ask for the next release of those header files to include typedefs for all defined functions so it is possible to define function pointers to OpenCL-functions without the need to duplicate information from the header files.


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A blog where I discuss and share all things beer plus more. Grab a cold one and Get Your Beer On with me!
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Beer Review #107 New Holland Michigan Awesome Hatter ( 5.8% )
via IFTTT What's happening friends? Here I am tasting another beer, so that I can provide you with the 411 on how good it may be. Don't worry, I don't mind taking one for the team as I embark on another BeerVenture. Watch the review to find out my thoughts and leave a comment if you have some of your own!
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Lin Songtian, China's ambassador to South Africa, took out a half-page advertisement in Business Day to attack the stance of the US and President Donald Trump on global trade.
In a paid-for editorial in South Africa's biggest financial newspaper, Lin said bullying by the US will drive the world into a "severe recession" and accused Trump of capriciousness.
"The Chinese culture emphasizes that 'gentlemen keep their words.' Honouring the promises and commitments is the basic ethical code and requirement for state leaders and businessmen," he said in the advert titled 'Voice of China.' His comments were also published in the Star newspaper.
"The president of the US runs his country according to his own will, dictates the world through Twitter and changes his position overnight," Lin said.
The column, part of a drive by Beijing to have its ambassadors speak out globally, reflects the deteriorating relationship between the world's two biggest economies. The Chinese Communist Party's flagship newspaper on Tuesday accused Trump adviser Peter Navarro of lying. A day earlier, Ted McKinney, the US Agriculture Department's top trade official, called Chinese President Xi Jinping a "communist zealot."
The US embassy in South Africa declined to comment.
Tit-for-tat import tariffs imposed by the US and China are roiling world markets and upending global trade patterns.
Chinese exporters get a taste of the misery to come
"The US insisting on escalating the trade frictions with China will harm the common interests of all people around the world and no one can escape," Lin said. "The US clings to the winner takes all law of the jungle."
Actions by the US are harming its own economy as China's technological companies will need to establish new supply chains and its agricultural goods importers are already finding other sources of crops such as soybeans, he said. Trump is damaging his reputation and that of his country, he added.
"Even God doesn't know what he will do tomorrow," Lin said. "Such a US model of democracy has become the laughing stock of all people around the world."


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The C131 is a rectangular-shaped cufflink with a slightly curving face divided into vertical stripes of colour yet retaining a solid metal strip along the to and bottom.
The Smoke and Black variation of this cufflink is bold and serious. The alternating transparent enamel on this cufflink allows the metal underneath to show through while the opaque enamel gives a rich, deep black.


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Listings in Chilliwack Mt. Cheam Rotary club, Real Estate Services, Optometry and Staffing company in Chilliwack
Omega & Associates Engineering Ltd - Doug Clough, PEng, StructEng
in Construction, Architecture & Design, Chilliwack Mt. Cheam Rotary club
Doug Clough is the principal Engineer and President of Omega & Associates Engineering which specializes in Structural and Civil Engineering. Doug works from the Chilliwack office and has over 25 years of experience in design and project supervision.
9094 Young Road
Chilliwack, British Columbia V2P 4R5
Simpson Notaries - Kim McLandress
in Notary Public, Chilliwack Mt. Cheam Rotary club
Simpson Notaries has been a trusted provider of efficient and reliable legal services in the Fraser Valley for over 50 years. We provide a wide range of legal services in the areas of estate planning, wills, and conveyancing
201-7408 Vedder Road
Chilliwack, British Columbia V2R 0T8
Fax: 604-824-5521
RBC Dominion Securities Wealth Advisor - Darlene Koller
in Financial Planning, Estate Management, Chilliwack Mt. Cheam Rotary club
Darlene Koller is a Portfolio Manager and Wealth Advisor as well as a certified financial planner and chartered insurance professional for RBC Dominion Securities. Contact Darlene today for a free consultation.
9296 Main St.
Chilliwack, British Columbia V2P 4M5
RE/MAX Plowright - Residential and Commercial Real Estate Services - Bob & Ron Plowright
in Real Estate Services, Chilliwack Mt. Cheam Rotary club, Chilliwack Rotary Club
Commercial and Residential Real Estate Experts serving Chilliwack and Fraser Valley. When you make the important decision to buy or sell a home, we are committed to going the extra mile to ensure that all of your needs are met successfully.
1-7300 Vedder Road
Chilliwack, British Columbia V2R4G6
Entrust Mortgage - Steven Brouwer, Licenced Mortgage Specialist / Owner
in Banking, Chilliwack Mt. Cheam Rotary club
Entrust Mortgage's licensed mortgage professionals offer our clients more choice, and access to hundreds of mortgage products. Click to read the 10 reasons why Entrust Mortgage is the right choice for you.
10149 Beaver Crescent
Chilliwack, British Columbia V2P 7X4
Fax: 1-866-823-2295
Chilliwack Golf Club - Sales & Events Co-ordinator - Laura Taylor
in Recreation, Chilliwack Mt. Cheam Rotary club
The Chilliwack Golf Club features magnificent tree lined fairways, a creek that meanders through the back nine and breathtaking mountain vistas in every direction. You're going to enjoy your experience at the Chilliwack Golf Club.
41894 Yale Road West
Chilliwack, British Columbia
Grosvenor Electric Ltd (GEL) - Robert Fleming
in Electrical Contractor, Chilliwack Mt. Cheam Rotary club
We service Fraser Valley to Vancouver, our main business is fire and flood, but we are also provide electrical services for new construction. We truly are 'Big Enough to Serve you, Small Enough to Care!"
45778 Gaetz St,
Chilliwack, British Columbia V2R 4E5
Realtor RE/MAX Nyda Realty - Henry E Klop
in Real Estate Services, Chilliwack Rotary Club
Henry Klop has been a top producing real estate professional serving the Fraser Valley for over 20 years.
):#1 – 7300 Vedder Rd,
Chilliwack, British Columbia V2R4G6
Fax: 604-858-7197
CHPA: Craven | Huston | Powers Architects - Ryan Huston
in Business Services, Architecture & Design, Chilliwack Mt. Cheam Rotary club
CHPA is a multi-disciplinary architectural practice that offers a wide range of services in architecture, landscape architecture, urban design and project management. Ryan Huston has over 25 years of professional experience.
9355 Young Road
Chilliwack, British Columbia V2P 4S3


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here's the next "Exclusive" Covert Ops Clone Trooper
It's on it's way
I still kind of like this new figure but I am starting to talk myself out of buying one.
You know, there is a bright side to an exclusive like this. It is an EU type character, therefore, if you skip it, you're not really missing anything.
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